CARICOM Conference of Heads of Gov closes

The thirtieth CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government ended in Guyana on Sunday with leaders of the grouping looking for common ground on many issues. One of the big ticket items was the movement of skilled labour throughout the region, to which a tenth category has been added. As of next January, qualified domestic workers will be allowed to move freely throughout all member states, excluding Antigua and Barbuda. On the issue of trade, the interest of the Dominican Republic in becoming a full member of CARICOM is still under due consideration. News Five received this report from CMC News.

Bharrat Jagdeo, Chairman, CARICOM
“The schedule of free movement of persons will be reviewed at the CSME convocation to be convened later this year with a view to advising on the timetable for full free movement. It was also agreed that household domestics who have obtained the appropriate qualification will be allowed to move with effect from the first of January 2010.”

“The conference will grant Antigua and Barbuda a five year derogation on the free movement of the new category, household domestics, agreed during this thirtieth meeting of Conference of Heads of Government in order for that member state to make the necessary adjustments to its infrastructure and other imperatives to facilitate the fulfilment of its treaty obligations with respect to free movement of skills.”

Ben Meade, CMC News
On the issue of trade, which has been a thorny issue between some states, heads of government further agreed that member states should extend to intra-regional imports of new food products, treatment no less favourable than that extended to those from extra-regional countries.

In the meantime, there will be no fresh faces at the CARICOM round table… at least for the time being. The chairman of the fifteen nation grouping says the Dominican Republic’s bid to join CARICOM is still being examined.

Bharrat Jagdeo
“Our ministers of Foreign Affairs met with the delegation, they had some discussions but I think their applications will be considered in the future by heads.”

CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington says there’s a certain process that has to run its course as CARICOM assesses the impact of the Dominican Republic’s potential entry.

Edwin Carrington, Secretary General, CARICOM
“The application from the Dominican Republic now has to be studied in the context of the impact of the Dominican Republic economic relations with the CARICOM countries.”